Archives for April 12, 2011

‘Ruff, 51, whose team is in the playoffs, could become a free agent at season’s end. Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher is a friend of Mike Ramsey, the former Wild assistant who played with Ruff for years with the Sabres. Ramsey would seem certain to endorse Ruff for the Wild if asked. Ruff, though, could cost $1.5 million a year.’

‘Last year’s Northeast Division winners, the Sabres, seemed on the verge of cruising past the sixth-seeded Bruins after winning the first game. But when sniper Thomas Vanek went down in Game 2 with an injury, Boston began pushing Buffalo around.’

‘There is an odd passion about the Sabres that is different from anything else here, even the Bills. Maybe it’s because we can still share a Sabres game in person with our children and not worry about how many drunken brawls they will witness. Maybe it’s because, by comparison, the Sabres have been so close so recently, making the playoffs nine out of the last 14 seasons. And unlike a football postseason, which can be over three hours after the first playoff game starts, it can take almost two weeks for a hockey team to be eliminated or advance.’

‘"I got a taste of it, got hit into the bench last year in playoffs, so I think I’m ready for some hits," Ennis said Monday. "We’re not intimidated. We’re excited. It’s going to be hard-hitting and fast-paced, everything you want in a playoff series."’

‘"Oh, sure," Vanek said Monday. "At the same time, I’ve always been the same player. I think everyone would agree with that. I’m not your rah-rah guy. But when things need to be said, if you’re going well you should be able to say something. The past three months, I’ve played good hockey. So if something needed to be said, I said it."’

‘"I love the game and I love the guys, but for me at this point of my career, this is what it’s all about, getting a chance to win the Stanley Cup," Grier said. "I’ve played long enough and done enough things in the game where this is by far the most important thing to me. It’s another opportunity that I feel fortunate to have, and I’ll give everything I have to keep us plowing forward."’

‘”It’ll be a nice experience going to Berlin. It’s a hockey-crazy town,” Hecht said. “It’s going to be a great experience for everybody on this team to see how enthusiastic other countries are about hockey. The travel’s going to be tough, but you get so much from it, so much of an experience.”‘

‘The Connolly line is a major reason why Buffalo begins the playoffs on a 16-4-4 run. Connolly, Vanek, and Pominville, all veterans, have combined for 47 points (19 goals, 28 assists) in the last 16 games.’